Secretary of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, highlighted the importance of climate-sensitive and organic farming during his meeting with Estonia’s Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture.
The discussion focused on boosting agricultural exports and improving irrigation solutions through water conservation campaigns like ‘Catch the Rain.’
Dr. Chaturvedi, welcoming the Estonian Minister, elaborated on the key priorities of the Indian government in the agriculture sector, including ensuring food security, leveraging digital infrastructure to improve farmer services, promoting crop diversification, and adding value to horticultural products. He also emphasized the significance of climate-sensitive and organic farming, along with the need to enhance agricultural exports.
Dr. Chaturvedi discussed the vital role of small farmers in supporting the country’s agricultural system. He also covered various initiatives such as Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), contract farming, crop diversification, and diversification into livestock, fisheries, and other agricultural sectors. The Secretary outlined government policies addressing climate change challenges, including the promotion of better seeds, water-use efficiency, sustainable soil health management, and the use of traditional natural farming practices. He also highlighted initiatives like ‘Catch the Rain’ for water conservation and discussed improved irrigation solutions for maintaining water reservoirs and ponds.
The Estonian Minister shared the country’s expertise in organic farming, food security, and sustainable agricultural practices. She emphasized the role of water optimization and precision agriculture, expressing interest in collaborating with India to implement technical solutions that promote value addition, food processing, and agricultural productivity.
Cooperation in Agricultural Technology: Both countries also emphasized the potential for mutually beneficial partnerships in the agriculture-tech start-up ecosystem. They expressed a strong interest in exploring further cooperation opportunities through sustainable agricultural practices, technology exchange, and capacity-building initiatives in agriculture and allied sectors.
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